Archive | October 19, 2015

Primitive Craving

by

Alicia Sparks

Ten years ago when Willow Maddux lost her soul mate, she lost her reason to stay loyal to the Maddux clan, a family of shape shifting tigers who live in a strong hold in the Atchafalaya Basin. However, she broke their sacred code when she dressed in tiger body paint and transformed in front of a live audience. Now she has to face the wrath of the Maddux Tribunal and the man who has sworn to bring her in—Timbre Canis.

Timbre knows a lot about broken codes. At the young age of eighteen, he joined the military and became part of a secret experiment, one that changed him from human to something more. When the wolf took over his body, he broke an unspoken law, one that changed the dynamic of his connection to his brothers. The only way to absolution is to track down renegade shifters and bring them in. But Willow is unlike anyone he’s ever met, and he’s afraid once he touches her, he’ll never be able to let her go. She awakens a Primitive Craving he’s never felt before.

EXCERPT

Hitching his backpack up onto his shoulder, he stilled, hearing an unfamiliar sound just a few yards away, a sound filled with warning. When it finally registered what was happening, he hit the ground just in time. The bullet whizzed past him and sank into the tire of a nearby car. He spun around to see the man approaching and knew he had been found by one of the guys who worked for Himani. He could smell the woman’s chemicals on the guy’s skin even from across the parking lot. Rolling onto the ground and moving behind the car, he reached into his bag and pulled out his Glock, never taking his eyes off the man. He was steadily approaching, his gun raised, with his eyes locked onto Timbre.

With his gun trained on the man, Timbre prepared to fire a second before the scream pierced the air. Both the scream and the scent hit him at one. She was here and she was in danger. He saw movement out of the corner of his eye and felt her as she ran past him. Another shot rang out and he felt his stomach clench into a knot. He saw red, his vision blurred by the anger and panic that seized him. If she was hurt because of him…

He cut off the thought, unwilling to finish it.

Timbre couldn’t see her, but he could feel her panic as if it were tangible and wrapping around him. Crawling forward, he saw she had ducked behind a nearby car and was clinging to the tire, all the color drained from her face. She looked back at him with a panicked expression.

“Stay down,” he mouthed, giving her a hand signal in case she couldn’t understand him. She nodded frantically.

Peeking around the car, he looked for the man, but he had disappeared, probably hiding behind one of the vehicles in the crowded parking lot. He had to make his way to the girl and show her everything was going to be okay. He had to get her out of here.

Gauging the distance to her, he looked around one more time before making a crouching run to her. Another shot rang out, this time damned near deafening him with its proximity.

“Fuck!” He rolled onto his back and then rolled over again, this time landing right next to her.

“What is going on?”

“Nothing I can’t handle.”

“Someone’s shooting at you. Don’t you want to call the cops?” She pulled out a cell phone, but he noticed how her hand shook.

“It’s okay. My car’s over there.” He covered her hand with his and gave her a squeeze. “Black SUV. Two rows over.”

“Okay.” She twisted her head to the side, locating the car, which was as dark and mysterious as the man crouched next to her.

“Here’s my keys. You take the lead. I’ve got your back.” He noticed she had a backpack hitched up onto her shoulder and realized she was probably about to leave the hotel when the shots rang out.

She took the keys. “Okay, but there’s no way I can drive right now.”

“Come on.” He took her hand in his and pulled her away from the car, all the while watching for the gunman. “I want you to stay down. I’m going to open the door and I want you to slide in to the front seat and keep your head down. I’ll climb in behind you, okay?”

She nodded.

“On three.”

She nodded again.

Without taking too much time to think about it, he pulled her to him and gave her a quick kiss, barely pressing his lips against hers. Then they backed away from the car where they had taken cover and made their way to his vehicle. He slowly opened the door and turned to her.

“Stay down,” he reminded her. She nodded.

Climbing in after her, he raised himself up enough to make sure he wasn’t going to back into anything, then he started the vehicle. Two more shots were fired before he got out of the parking lot, bouncing off the dark glass.

She let out a scream then a curse. “The fuck? Bullet proof glass? Who are you?”

When a spell book lands on Ariana’s doorstep, her world is thrown into turmoil. That’s nothing new for her, except this time it involves bizarre and terrifying creatures who attempt to kill her. Then there’s the little fact that she now has the ability to perform magic.

Hadeon is another new addition in her life. He happened to drop in at the same time the spell book appeared. He’s dark, sexy, and alpha as hell, and Ariana doesn’t know if she wants to kill him or love him.

But all this chaos is nothing compared to what destiny has in store for her. A future is promised of royalty and immense power, palaces and undying love. But hers is a destiny that is not easily won. She will have to fight to the death against those who want to take it all for themselves. And when the real battle begins, just who the true enemy is will surprise everyone.

Hadeon sits beside Ariana on the bed. She’s mesmerized as he stares into her eyes. He takes a ribbon of her wet hair between his thumb and forefinger and slides down the length of it until his hand falls away. Saying nothing, his fingers float to her face and flutter down her cheek. Her need throbs as his thumb rubs along her bottom lip. Ariana’s breaths grow heavy. This simple gesture of affection makes her body warm and melt like ice in a fire.

“I’m sorry,” he says, his voice hoarse and gentle.

“Why? I’m the one who went out searching for trouble.”

His face nears; he slants his mouth over Ariana’s and slides his tongue between her lips. She sighs, both pleasure and angst, for she knows he will not allow this to advance any further. His hands cup her cheeks as his kiss grows deeper. Then he pulls away, and she is bereft. His forehead rests against hers, breaths heavy.

“I know why you did what you did. Why you do what you always do. I understand how it feels. The lust you feel, so intense it burns a path through your skull if you don’t feed it. I know how it feels to be swept up in a moment of passion, yearning to satiate the desire that grows hot like a fire in your belly.”

She backs away a fraction. Never before has someone been able to describe these emotions, sensations, and desires. “How?” she whispers, edging toward his lips with her own until they touch, warm and alive. His tongue finds hers again and she moans. His tenderness is unfurling her like a ripe bud.

His lips fall to her neck, then slide up her jaw, breath and fire burning along her flesh. His hot mouth tantalizes her ear. “It’s a part of you, Ariana. It makes you who you are, and who I am.”

Again she rocks away and looks into his eyes, which are now a lighter brown than they have ever been. His face is so alluring she could cry. She wants to speak great floods of words, but she can’t, trapped between bemusement, curiosity, and the most brilliant yearning she has ever experienced.

Jacquie resides in rural Victoria, Australia. On permanent hiatus from a profession she doesn’t love, she now spends her time wrapped up in her imagination, creating characters and exploring alternative realities.

Jacquie has a business degree, has studied post-graduate Writing, Editing and Publishing at The University of Queensland, and is currently finishing her research dissertation as a student of the Master of Letters program at Central Queensland University. She is an author of a number of digitally published novels, novellas and short stories that are emotionally driven and possess unique themes beyond the constraints of the physical universe.

Kenna is a pretty typical single mom. She takes her 5 kids to dance, soccer, and scouts. She just happens to make her living as an erotic book blogger. She has accepted the fact that she will probably always be single, until her dream fantasy man is sitting right in front of her.

Jax likes control. He’s never considered love or romance as an option, just as a necessary means to win a woman he’s interested in. So when he eyes a beautiful woman at a coffee shop and can’t stop thinking about her, he wonders what he has to do to possess her.

This is the hilarious story of two people who in a world of dreams are made for each other, but in reality could not be more incompatible. Will they find a way to make the dreams that live in their fantasies real, or are they destined to live without each other?

Author’s Note:

The Daydreaming novella series takes place in the same world as the Faultlines series and while there are many crossover elements, it is not the same story or direct sequel. While readers of that series will enjoy seeing characters in this series, you do not need to read one to read the other because it is not a direct sequel. This series is more erotic in nature, with lots of sexual situations, as well as a rather colorful choice of the English language (read- there’s a lot of swearing), so please note that this book is for mature audiences.

{Kenna}
I knew before I started reading that this was going to be a cliché. Weak girl meets billionaire bachelor. Let the story unfold. You know, the cliché we all make fun of but all secretly envy. Who cares if the plot is predictable? For that matter, all romance is predictable because in order to be considered romance, there must be a happy ending right? So really, everything in between is just filler to get to the happy ending.
Whatever. I love the filler. Don’t judge me.
As I read each page describing the initial encounter between the heroine and the hero, I kept thinking about Jax.
All those butterflies, sparks, good happy feelings that every good romance describes at the first encounter? Us book bloggers would call it the “insta-love”.
Yeah, that shit.
I had spent the last 10 years of my short 27 years of life reading every piece of romance I could get my hands on and never ONCE thought that it was real. It was all just a fantasy.
But within moments of meeting a total stranger, albeit a totally panty-dropping gorgeous stranger, I had every one of those fantasy inspired feelings.
So, the question running through my head, was it real or did I just imagine all of those feelings because I spend too much reading about them?
And if it was real, was it some sort of sick cosmic joke? Where was Jax when I was 22? 23?
I heard the front door open and slam shut.
“Mom!” I heard my son Blane’s voice yell out.
Sighing I stood up to go downstairs and start dinner. You know, to live my life. My very well thought out and planned life. That I wanted.
The life that had no place for a man like Jax Dowe.

Bridal shop owner Meg Halloran spends her days making other women’s wedding dreams come true—and her nights dreaming of her childhood crush, hometown heartthrob Dr. Benjamin Rushford. After a lifetime of wearing her heart on her sleeve, she’s done waiting. Meg’s ready to find love, with or without him. Moving on feels right—until Ben pops an unexpected question.

To win the open ER position in Mirror Lake, Ben has to convince the board that he’s settled and ready to put down roots. His latest stroke of genius? Asking Meg, the local good girl, to be his pretend girlfriend. With her by his side, he’s a shoo-in for the job. But he’s in over his head because, as much as he tries to deny it, Meg tempts him. And if she learns the truth about a secret that has shadowed and shaped his life, will she ever be able to forgive him?

Ben leads Meg out onto the dance floor at a business dinner, and she’s very uncomfortable…

“Okay, baby, here we go. Hold on tight!” Ben’s face lit up with clear glee as he spun and twirled, tipped and swayed, keeping a hard and fast grip on her at all times.

He put his hands on her hips and had her mimic his own movements.

Terror threatened to freeze her limbs but she couldn’t not do . . . something. Maybe it was the fact that she felt responsible for doing whatever she could to help him get this job. But maybe it was the look of pure joy on Ben’s face that mesmerized her, made her feel giddy and . . . happy. Yes, happy in a way that made her throw herself into the dancing with reckless abandon for the first time in her life. She shook, she shimmied, she did wild and crazy things like swung and swayed and twisted. The disastrous evening seemed far away, and she was enveloped in Ben’s smile, his confident touch, and his cocky swagger as he clearly loved every move.

He drew her near and said into her ear, “Hang on for the finale, sweetheart.” Before she could respond, he pushed her until she flew away from him, then when their arms were fully outstretched and they were holding on only by their fingertips, he reeled her slowly back in until their bodies were touching, hips swaying together in a rhythm fueled by the erotic beat of the music.

As he flung her out one final time, she lost balance a little and cast out an arm to compensate. She stumbled, clutching at him to avoid falling. That was when she heard the rip.

The first sensation was relief—she could finally breathe. But that was followed quickly by terror as she realized the entire seam along the backside of her dress had ripped wide open, and the entire restaurant was about to catch a full and unobstructed view of her ass.

She spun and backed up against Ben’s body, plastering herself flat against him.

“Wow, Meggie,” Ben said as she ground into his crotch. “I never realized dancing got you so hot.”

She twisted her neck around far enough to send him the stink eye. Then she clutched at him for dear life.

“Do not move away from me,” she managed.

“Sure, no problem. Are you . . . flirting with me? Because if you are, I’m all in.” As she pushed against him, he wrapped his hands around her upper arms, a move which normally would have caused goose bumps to course up and down their lengths.

She scootched up against his chest and put her mouth near his ear. “Listen to me carefully. I’m only going to say this once. I am not flirting with you. My dress tore and . . .”

He stilled suddenly. “And what?” he asked.

“And I always wear undies. I never go anywhere without them. Except maybe for today.”

He tried pushing her away, no doubt to see the spectacle for himself, but she clung to him with the suction of an octopus.

“I didn’t think you were that kind of gal, Meggie.” His voice sounded choked.

“Panty lines are embarrassing. I had no choice.”

“Nice.”

“Just help me!”

“How do you propose I do that?”

“You’re used to dealing with crises, aren’t you? Think of something!”

“Keep smiling,” he said calmly. “And wave to all the nice people who are staring at us.”

Somehow, she managed to hold it together while he slowly backed them both off the dance floor, steering them to an opening to the kitchen.

“Hey, can we have a napkin?” he asked one of the kitchen staff. “My girlfriend just split her dress. Ouch!” He glared at Meg while holding his ribs, which she’d just elbowed. “What’d you do that for?”

“I’m flattered if you think a napkin is going to cover my ass but I need something bigger!”

“Can I change that to a tablecloth, please?” he asked as he fended off another poke. Then he turned to her. “Your ass isn’t that big, honey,” he said, biting the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. A move which accentuated his damn dimples. Then he shrugged off his suit coat and handed it to her. “Try this.”

Eyes narrowed in her most practiced Darth Vader glare, she took the coat and tied it around her waist. “Thanks,” she managed.

eBook and Print:

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Miranda Liasson loves to write stories about courageous but flawed characters who find love despite themselves, because there’s nothing like a great love story. And if there are a few laughs along the way, even better! She’s a former Golden Heart winner who writes lighthearted contemporary romance for Montlake Publishing and also writes series romance for Entangled Publishing. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, three kids, and Posey, a rescue cat with attitude.

Miranda loves to hear from readers! Find her at mirandalisson.com, Facebook.com/MirandaLiassonAuthor or on Twitter @mirandaliasson.

Both are former child stars and once were lovers. When they are cast as the leads in the upcoming erotic suspense blockbuster—Sinners Like Us—they are forced to come to terms with the issues that tore them apart to begin with.

As the whole world watches, can they keep their secrets hidden?

After all, everybody is a sinner…

About J.J. Mcavoy

J. J. McAvoy first started working on Ruthless People during a Morality and Ethics lecture her freshman year of college. X number of years later, she is an insomniac who has changed her major three times, and is a master in the art of procrastination. If you ask her why she began writing, she will simply tell you “They wanted to get their story out.”

She is currently working on her next novel . . . so please bug her on Twitter @JJMcAvoy

For years, I lived for the job and let it control me. Violence was all I knew. I protected, killed, and served. My name is Blake Evans, one of the best undercover cops in the country. I thought I was about to live a quiet life on my ranch in Wyoming until an old friend showed up and changed everything. He brought me her, Hadley Rivers, country music sensation and the one woman I couldn’t have. I didn’t want her but she had me completely roped in.

My job is to protect her, to keep her away from some psycho who wants her for himself. However, there’s more to her story than I was led to believe. I promised to keep her safe and I won’t back down . . . even if I have to die trying. I can’t let him have her.

About L.P. Dover

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, L.P. Dover, is a southern belle residing in North Carolina along with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she even began her literary journey she worked in Periodontics enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.

Not only does she love to write, but she loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes, white water rafting, and you can’t forget the passion for singing. Her two number one fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime and those songs usually consist of Christmas carols.

Aside from being a wife and mother, L.P. Dover has written over nine novels including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, and her standalone novel, Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read is romantic suspense and she also loves writing it. However, if she had to choose a setting to live in it would have to be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.